Abstract

A test stand for ion source development and laser resonance ionization spectroscopy was built and commissioned at TRIUMF. The test stand is needed to develop efficient ion sources that can function reliably in the hostile, high temperature, high radiation environment of TRIUMF's isotope separator on-line (ISOL) production target ion source. In addition, it enables laser resonance ionization spectroscopy to develop laser excitation schemes suitable for the solid-state laser systems used with TRIUMF's resonant ionization laser ion source . Also, it allows for possible improvement of current ion sources and validation of new designs. The test stand employs a copy of the ion optics used on-line, so that results can be transferred directly to radioactive ion beam production. Due to space restrictions and the need for rapid mass scans, a quadrupole mass spectrometer is used as a mass separator. One of the first experiments conducted on the laser ion source test stand (LIS STAND) was resonant ionization spectroscopy of gallium to improve on the ionization scheme previously used on-line, so that low yield isotopes (e.g., 62Ga) become available for experiments. Different Rydberg series in gallium were observed and autoionizing states were searched for. The overall LIS STAND system performance, characteristics, and the first resonant ionization spectroscopy are described.

Received 06 September 2012Accepted 08 January 2013Published online 29 January 2013

Acknowledgments:

This work is funded by TRIUMF under a contribution from the National Research Council of Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of D. Dale, D. Bishop, T. Howland, K. Langton, M. LeRoss, E. Tikomolov, J. Richards, F. Labrecque, J. Meissner and M. McDonald, R. Maharaj, E. Pattyn to the design, construction, and commissioning of the test stand.